How to Cook Pork Hocks

Learn how to cook Pork Hocks, not just for Oktoberfest, but anytime you want something traditionally German and wonderfully delicious! There are two main methods for cooking pork hocks. This one uses both cooking on the stove and finishing off in the oven. May sound like extra work. It really isn't and the results are worth it! This is REAL German food, Oktoberfest style!

Called Eisbein in northern Germany and Schweinshaxe in the southern part, it is cooked from fresh ham hocks rather than smoked hocks. German recipes don't get much better than this!

Schweinshaxe (as it's called in southern Germany) is a roasted ham hock or pork knuckle

Eisbein (as it's called in northern Germany) is usually pickled first and then boiled

Originally this was considered food for the poor people, aka Armeleuteessen, since it was made with inexpensive cuts of meat

Since this is a tough piece of meat, full of connective tissue, ligaments, and muscle, it needs to be cooked low and slow, to turn it into delicious fork-tender meat

Traditionally this is served with potato dumplings and red cabbage or with sauerkraut and potatoes

How to Cook Pork Hocks

Ingredients:

1 leek, well cleaned, diced

1 stalk celery, diced

1 carrot, diced

1 onion, diced

1 - 2 meaty pork hocks

salt, peppercorns, cumin (if desired)

Instructions:

Put vegetables, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp peppercorns, and pork hocks in pot.

Add water to cover, bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer, and cook until hocks are just tender - about 2 - 3 hours. Do not overcook.

Serve meat with potatoes and sauerkraut. If desired, serve the cooking liquid (thicken with corn starch if desired). Add a bit of cumin to liquid if desired.

Hints:

Keep the extra drained liquid from cooking the pork hocks. Use what's needed for the roasting process. Let the rest cool and refrigerate. Skim off the congealed fat and use the broth for soups or stews.

The other way to make this is just to roast it. Both are traditional and have their own followers, each claiming their pork hocks are the best.

Tips on Pork Hocks ...

When you buy the fresh pork hocks, try to find the meatiest ones you can.

Depending on the size of the hocks, one to two meaty hocks will feed about three to four people. Served with boiled potatoes and sauerkraut, you've a traditional Oktoberfest meal.

Check the fresh pork hocks to see if there are any hairs on the hocks before you cook them. If there are, the easiest way to get rid of them is to singe them off. Light a candle and hold the "hairy" hock over the flame, and the hair will "melt away".

Smoked hocks or fresh?

Smoked pork hocks are great, however they will make this dish taste like ham. If you want the traditional "pork hock" dinner, the type you get at Oktoberfests, then buy fresh pork hocks.

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